Qatar Airways, which operates Hamad International airport, has said it will start charging all departing passengers, including transit passengers, QR35 ($9.6) for using its airport facilities starting 1 December.

The new tax will be reflected in all tickets sold after 30 August with travel dates starting 1 December, according to news agency Reuters, which cited a circular sent by Qatar Airways to travel agents.

The news follows similar moves made by airports in Dubai and Abu Dhabi earlier this year.

The fees or taxes are seen as an additional measure to help the governments boost their revenues in view of falling oil income.

Hamad International processed an estimated 30 million passengers in 2015, a 14 per cent rise compared with the previous year. This figure is split almost equally between departing and arriving passengers. The new taxes could potentially boost the airport’s income by at least $144m annually.

Most of the GCC’s key international airports posted double-digit growths in 2015. Most half-year statistics seem to indicate that a majority of the airports could meet or exceed their target number of passengers in 2016, despite fears that currency fluctuations and regional stability could stall demand.

Lower jet fuel prices have allowed some of the region’s largest airlines to drop their average fare costs to certain destinations, facilitating demand. Jet fuel accounts for between 30 and 50 per cent of an airline’s operating costs.